Pressure governor



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 29, 1950 d/ILL/flM F7. 214% INVENTOR.

June 16, 1953 w. A. RAY 2,641,871

' PRESSURE GOVERNOR Filed July 29, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I (Old/QM A7.164% IN V EN TOR.

Patented June 16, 1953 PRESSURE GOVERNOR William A. Ray, NorthHollywood, Calif., assignor to General Control 00., a corporation ofCalifornia Application July. 29, 1950, Serial No. 1'76,682

3 Claims. (Cl. 50-26) 1. I This invention relates to a pressureregulator, such as is commonly used for controlling or regulating theflow of a gaseous fuel to a burner. Such a regulator includes a valvemechanism that is adapted automatically to maintain the pressure atwhich gaseousfuel is supplied to a burner ata substantially constantvalue above atmospheric pressure.

In the past, such pressure regulators havebeen characterized by a markeddegree of turbulence within the apparatus; rendering accurate control ofpressure difficult, if not impossible.

the inlet and outlet passageways thereto are substantially coaxial, theflow of fuel following substantially the axis defined by the inlet andthe outlet. In this manner turbulence is reduced, and accurate controlcan be achieved.

,It is still another object, of this invention to provide a device ofthis character that is simple in structure, promoting economy ofmanufacture, and ease of installation and repair.

It is still another object of this invention. to provide a pressureregulator or governor utilizing a flexible diaphragm subjected to outletpressure and a sliding" valve mechanism movable in response, to thepositioning of the flexible dia phragm.

This invention possesses. many other advantages and has other objects,which may be. made more clearly apparent from. a consideration. of oneembodiment of theinvention. For this purpose the're is shown a form inthe drawings. accompanying and forming part. of the present"specification. The form will now be described indetail, illustrating thegeneral principles of the invention; but it is tobe understood that thisdetailed description is not. to be taken in a I limiting sense, sincethe scope of this invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is. a longitudinal sectional view ofan apparatus embodying this invention, illustrating 2 the mechanism inmaximum valve'opening position; 7

Fig. la is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of theapparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 2' is a longitudinal section similar to Fig. l, but illustratingthe mechanism in minimum valve opening position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the valvemechanism in the position of Fig. 1;

, Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 3,showing the valve mechanism in the position of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, taken along" a plane v indicated by line 5-5of Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 is a sectional view,- taken along the planeindicated by line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

The valve body In provides a central cham--- ber II through which fluidis adapted to pass. The valve body I0 carries an integrally formednipple I2, defining an inlet I3 to the central chamber II. Substantiallycoaxial with the inlet I3 is an apertured boss I4, defining an outletI5'atthe opposite side of the chamber or passageway II. The boss I4 maybe interiorly threaded to provide a fitting for a discharge connection Aplate [1, disposed on an annular shoulder 62 within the body I0, definesthe chamber II. A cover or casing I8 is disposed on a peripheral flangeI 9 of the valve body.

A flexible diaphragm 22 is secured at its periphery between the cover I8and the flange I9 of the valve body, as bythe aid of bolts 23, clampingthe diaphragm 22 in fluid-tight relation between the cover l8 and theflange I9. The diaphragm 22, together with the plate I I defines achamber 20-.

From the plate H, a conduit 2I depends, the conduit having anopening 21aadjacent the outletv I5. This conduit provides a throughv passageway. tosubject the chamber 20 to the pressure of fluid fuel passing to theoutlet l5. 7

The diaphragm 22 carries a stem 24 for moving a valve operator 25 toposition the. valve elements of the apparatus in a manner hereinafter tobe described. For securing such stem 24 to the diaphragm 22, a pair ofcupped discs 26 and 2.1 are respectively disposed on opposite sidesthereof. The stem 24 has a threaded shank porannular shoulder 29 of thestem engages the Securing the stem 24 to the discs 26 disc 26. and 27,as well as maintaining a fluid-tight re- The cover |8 carries a vent 33so thatthe dia-.

phragm 22 is acted upon by a fluid pressure corresponding to thediiference between the pressure at the outlet i5 and the pressure of theambient air. A light helical compression spring 34 abuts the disc 21,the nut extending a few turns within the spring 34 to prevent lateralmovement of the spring 34. A tubular interiorly threaded housing 35 forspring 34 carries a threaded plug 36, providing a seat 37' for thespring 34 (see Fig. 1). Pressure imposed upon the diaphragm 22 throughthe medium of the conduit 2| will cause the diaphrgam 22, discs-25, 21,stem 24, and the extension 32 to assume a position in which the spring34 counterbalances such pressure, all in a well known manner. Adjustmentof the plug 36 longitudinally of the housing 35 will adjust theequilibrium position of the diaphragm 22 for any given pressure.

Control of the flow of fluid through the device is accomplished by apair of contacting, relatively slideable plates 38 and 39, each having aplural ity of spaced'parallel elongated apertures 43 and 4|,respectively, that are-adapted to be moved between maximum and minimumregistry, shown clearly in Figs.- 3 and 4 respectively. For accuratelypositionin the stationary plate 38, as shown most clearly in Fig. 5, theplate 38 carries a-plurality of ears 42 that are received by appropriaterecesses or slots 43 provided in the face of the nipple -|2. Anappropriate sealing gasket 44 may be disposed between the plate 38 andthe nipple l2. An interiorly threaded fitting 45 (see Figs. 1 and 2),with which an inlet conduit 46 I may cooperate, provides a chamber 41 inwhich the sliding plate 39 is accommodated to cooperate with the plate38. The fitting 45 is shown as secured to the nipple |2 by the aid of acoupling 48 threaded onto the nipple i2, the cou-' pling 48 carrying anannular collar 49 engageable with an annular shoulder 58 of the fitting45. Accordingly the chamber 4! is aligned with the inlet l3 by causingthe fittting to abut the plate 38 through the intermediary of a sealinggasket 5|.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 5, the apertures 48 of the plate 33 are inthis instance elongated, substantially parallel, and also substantiallyequally spaced. The apertures 4| of the plate 39 are similarlyproportioned. Other forms of cooperating apertures can, of course, beused. It is apparent that the degree of registry of the apertures 48 and4| will control the dynamic characteristics of the flowing fluid.Movement of the plate 39 upwards, as viewed in Fig. 5, perpendicular tothe longitudinal apertures 40 will cause complete registry of theapertures 40 and 4|. For guiding the plate 39 for sliding movement insuch a direction, a pair of guide members 52 are attached to the plate38. These guide members 52 cooperate with parallel side portions 53 ofthe plate 39 to confine the plate 39 for sliding movement in onedirection along the plate 38.

The apertures 4| of the plate 40 extend substantially at right angles tothe side portions '53.

The valve operator 25 causes movement of the movable plate 39. Theoperator 25 carries, at one end, a plate-engaging surface formed of aball 54. This ball seats on a cup seat 55 formed on that face of theplate 39 that is displaced from the stationary plate"38,: the seat 55being substantially centrally disposed on the plate 39. The operator 25causes movement of the ball 54 and the plate 39 through pivotal movementabout an annular knife edge 56 formed in the center of the stationaryplate 38 by a tapered recess 51. The'tapered recess 51 and a taperedrecess 58, communicating with the seat '55, provide clearance foraccommodating the operator 25 for any relative position of the plates 38and 39, as illus trated in Figs. 3 and 4. a The valve operator 25 isurged by a spiral compression spring 59 to cause the ball 54 tightly toseat to ensure cooperation with the plate 39 and to maintain contactbetweenthe plates 38 and 39. The spring 59 abuts the plate 38 atone end,and, at the other end, abuts a washer 53 carried by the operator 25.Movement of the washer 63 longitudinally of the operator islimited by acollar 64 carried by the operator 25.

The extension 32 of the stem 24 has an aperture 5| for accommodating theend of the operator 25. As shown most clearly in Fig. 1a,. the apertureSi is tapered to form an annular knife edge cooperating with theoperator 25. The aperture 8| being tapered, suitable clearance for theoperator 25 is provided for any angular position thereof about the knifeedge 69. Accordingly, longitudinal movement of the stem 24, carried bythe diaphragm 22, causes corresponding movement of the operator 25 aboutthe knife edge56 to move the movable plate 39 with respect to thestationary plate 38 to adjust the registry of the apertures 49 and 4|.

Assume that the position of the diaphragm 22 is in equilibrium, theforcesacting on opposite sides of it being the same, and that there nowoccurs an increase in the inlet pressure in chamber 41. This causes anincrease in the pressure in chamber II, and diaphragm22 must accordinglymove upward; this causes a reduction in the slide openings and acorresponding reduction of pressure in chamber The diaphragm 22 willreach a position such that pressure in chamber exactly counterbalancesthe force acting above the diaphragm 22. The pressure in chamber istherefore maintained at a pressure near that of the original equilibriumcondition. Although this pressure in chamber II is slightly increased,it is nevertheless in the usable range. V

On the contrary, should there be a reduction in the pressure in chamber47; the pressure in chamber decreases, causing an increase in the slideopenings and a corresponding increase of the pressure in chamber Thepressure in chamber I is therefore maintained at a pressure near that ofthe original equilibrium condition. Although this pressure in chamber IIis slightly decreased, it is nevertheless in the usable range.

The inventor claims: 1 I

1. In a valve structure: a valve body having an inlet passage and anoutlet passage and a chamber between said inlet and outlet passages; afirst ported member detachably secured to said body and extending acrosssaid inlet passage; a second member having ports adapted to registerwith said first ported member, said second ported member contacting saidfirst ported member;

said members having means guiding said second ported member forrectilinear sliding movement with respect to said first ported member;an arm having a free end extending into said chamber; means providing apivotal support for said arm in said first ported member for movement ofsaid arm angularly about an axis substantially normal to said arm andnormal to the direction of relative movement of said members; said armand said second ported member having provisions for connecting saidsecond ported member and said arm for movement of said second portedmember with respect to said first ported member in accordance with theangular position of said arm; and an operator guided for linear movementtransversely of said armtand providing a support for movement of thefree end of said arm therewith.

2. In a valve structure: a valve body having an inlet passage and anoutlet passage and a cham-. ber between said inlet and outlet passages;a first ported member detachably secured to said body and extendingacross said inlet passage; a second member having ports adapted toregister with said first ported member, said second ported membercontacting said first ported member; said members having means guidingsaid second ported member for rectilinear sliding movement with respectto said first ported member; an arm having a free end extending intosaid chamber; means providing a pivotal support for said arm in saidfirst ported member for movement of said arm angularly about an axissubstantially normal to said arm and normal to the direction of relativemovement of said members; said arm and said second ported member havingprovisions for connecting said second ported member and said arm formovement of said second ported member with respect to said first portedmember in accordance with the angular position of said arm; and anoperator extending into said chamber and guided for linear movementtransversely of said arm; said operator having an aperture accommodatingsaid free end of said arm for movement of said arm therewith.

3. In a pressure regulator: a valve body having an inlet passage and anoutlet passage aligned with saidinlet passage and a chamber between saidinlet and outletpassages; a first plate detachably secured to said bodyand extending across said inlet passage, said plate having throughports; a second plate having through ports adapted to register with saidfirst plate, said second plate having a surface adapted to contact saidfirst plate; said members having means guiding said second plate forlinear sliding movement with respect to said first plate; an arm havinga free end extending into said chamber, said arm extending through saidfirst plate; said first plate having an aperture accommodating said armand providing a pivotal support therefor; means connecting the other endof said arm to said second plate, including means providing a sphericalsurface on said arm and means providing a cooperating seat in saidsecond plate, said connecting means being so arranged that movement ofsaid spherical surface into engagement with said seat urges said secondplate against said first plate; resilient means urging. said arm towardseating relation; and an operator for said arm, said operator extendinginto said chamber and movable transversely thereof, said operator havingan aperture accommodating and supporting the free, end of said arm.

WILLIAM A. RAY.

References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 282,069 Frost July 31, 1883 478,856 Gustafsson July 12, 1892825,559 Schrader July 10, 1906 2,503,881 Manis July 11, 1950

